Because the party faithful must 'eat a food'...

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Jamaicans should not allow the most recent fire at the Riverton City dump to become just another poorly managed crisis that fades from memory with its last embers.

For it is clear to us that what took place there is a nasty scandal that placed at risk the lives of more than a million people in the capital city and St Catherine.

Add to that the hours lost to businesses and schools that had to close and we get an idea of the further damaging effects of this scandal that, we hold, should not go unpunished.

There's no doubting the information from people on the ground that what was at work was politics — the politics of ensuring that the party faithful are allowed to "eat a food" even if that means placing people's lives at risk.

The unfortunate reality is that this has been happening for years, spreading across administrations, as if it's some agreed code of reward between the two major political parties that have shared power in this country.

Ms Diana McCaulay, the executive director of the Jamaica Environment Trust, said it well in her article published in last Wednesday's Observer: "The Riverton dump has become a political feeding tree, and the fact that three separate Government ministries — local government, environment, and health — and their associated agencies have completely abdicated their responsibility for public health and the environment and have displayed a staggering lack of accountability, is indeed the real scandal."

Proof of that negligence exists in the Government's failure to provide sufficient budgetary support for an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) project aimed at improving conditions at the Riverton City dump and other dump sites around the country, and to develop an action plan for a modern solid waste management programme for Jamaica.

Under that programme, the IDB signed a US$11.5 million loan agreement with Jamaica in September 1999 that would see an upgrade of the Riverton landfill, establishment of a proper legal and institutional regulatory system for solid waste, and the preparation of an islandwide programme for waste minimisation, collection and disposal.

In addition, the Riverton landfill was to benefit from an environmental impact assessment and monitoring programme, lighting, road and bridge improvement.

In addition, equipment was to have been acquired and maintained, and recommendations should have been made for the siting of regional landfills and transfer stations.

But, as we reported last week, the IDB cancelled the bulk of the funding in January 2007 because of the Government's failure to pay its share and the IDB's own observation of mismanagement, waste, and incompetence in the implementation of the programme.

This cannot be allowed to continue, for it is draining our scarce financial resources and, more importantly, threatening our survival.

It is time, therefore, for the Government to divest itself of its role as benefactor to those who place the country at risk for personal gain; prosecute those who are involved in this deliberate act of iniquity; and re-engage the IDB with a firm commitment to implementing the 1999 project, giving timelines for accomplishing the goals and procedures for any failure.

The political capital that the Administration will lose among those who wish for a retention of the old order will pale in significance to that which it will gain from people who will respect the Government for taking firm action.

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COMMENTS (13)

Ras Benji
2/22/2012

Jay Brown, who said the people of Riverton did it? Clearly anyone from anywhere could have.
One Love!

Rick Berns
2/22/2012

You are on the right track, but in adopting the high moral ground and critiquing the political establishment, you failed to notice the other four fingers pointing back at you. Where are the names of institutions and people who did not perform, acted corruptly or committed other criminal and negligent acts? Where is the story linking these failures and actions which accumulated to the stink on which you opined? Stating the obvious will not win you any accolades.

Fabian Williams
2/21/2012

Editor you are right and well said. The 'eat a food' syndrome is alive and well amongst the lumpens and those who lead them. Watch out for the deregulation of the scrap metal business as part of the JEEP initiative. We are in for an interesting time.

Norman Lee
2/21/2012

It may sound risible, but it is implied that person or persons committed arson at the garbage dump! And since arson is a criminal act and there was at least one loss of life, it may be that murder or manslaughter was committed and those persons ought to be found and duly charged. Putting the lives of 1million people at risk surpassed 9/11 in its scope! I hope Portia will order an investigation and the findings turn over to Paula for her action.

ras london
2/21/2012

Mr. Editor, you you have stated the obvious every week "that this cannot allow to be continued" regarding almost every act of corruption but I don't see any branch of our media doing anything about it. No followups, no investigations, no holding those responsible accountable. So what's your point of stating the obvious every week. The media is in the position to shed light on these acts of corruption. And as usual, we will get no answers from those in authority. Getting sick of this country.

Meat Head
2/21/2012

In principle, I am completely in agreement regarding the perils of patronage. That said, it is also clear that some form of patronage is an inevitable consequence of democracy. What political party would survive if it did not differentially reward its supporters? Indeed, one could cynically argue that having a vibrant economy is counter strategic because that this would reduce the base of poor voters susceptible to promises of patronage. What happens now that the till is bare?

Luv Quest
2/21/2012

Follow the money trail....our columnists write too many compositions. They need to go out and do some real investigative journalism. Party supporters and contributors expect to eat a food; if not…they will take a food. That is why in a country where corruption is rampant; arson at the Riverton Landfill cannot be ruled out. Who knows the respiratory illnesses that will be affecting people in the surrounding areas in the near future; especially in a time when the free healthcare is questionable?

robert heath
2/21/2012

Good article pointing out the waste in government, I do take exception to the eat a food comment as it is speculation and a Injurious statement, this is a NEWS PAPER.
Re the pulling of information from 2006, we knew the PNP was skylarking and arrogant, so we voted them out. Putting this information out there is highlighting the fact that we swap black dawg fe monkey. You means say that from 2007 to 2011 the JLP never did anything either

Nejeeper KNG
2/21/2012

I'm very alarmed at the lack of accountability in what is a crucial matter. The current Riverton Landfill situations are self inflicted wounds that could have been avoided. Editor; it is hard to believe that successive Admin have applied Band-Aid approach to public health matters. This level of incompetence and lack of vision is tearing down the fabric of our society. Mismanagement and the lack of accountability are too common in our country. Patriotism is not overrated; it is underrated in JA.

N Manley Blythe
2/21/2012

"To earn money many men will sell their souls, damage the health of thousands of children and adults and go to bed at nights richer and more desperate in their lust for physical wealth. 'Damn the nation' is their mantra as they and their cronies in high places laugh it up over whisky and the good life." - Wignall, 19/2/12.
Evidenced by the lowest voter participation in our history, citizens have lost faith in JLPNP.
There WILL be a REVOLUTION. Politicians WILL go to prison.
God help Jamaica.

christopher Isaacs
2/21/2012

Hopefully this editorial piece is an indication of the observer's editorial page return to biting truth telling pieces, no matter which side of the political fence. In recent pieces there seem to be an adaptation of a sort of philosophical mumbojumbo which commanded little interest especially from bloggers. Indeed this recent fire was a deliberate job for boys act. The attempt to characterize it otherwise is at best shamefully scandalous. Does the great Greg Christie smell anything here?!!

Dan smith
2/21/2012

What about your friends who eat a food from the JIDIP money talking about scandal that is the mother of all scandal should they go unpunished, It's people like you why Jamaica is in this state today.

Jay Brown
2/21/2012

I hope the observer can back up its claim of people trying to "eat a food" why we had that fire. I cannot imagine the people of riverton setting fire to the dump, simply because of the inconvenience this would have caused them.

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Because the party faithful must 'eat a food'...